Bariatric Surgery What Is The Real Cost?
The NHS Information Centre recently released disturbing statistics demonstrating the rising costs of obesity to the NHS.
Hospital admissions for obesity, in England alone, have risen by 60% in the last year and 360% compared to 5 years ago. This does not take in account Scotland and Northern Ireland who have the highest obesity rates within the UK.
NHS Chief Executive Tim Straughan said,
The large increase in admissions for obesity reflects the growing impact that obesity has on the health of our nation and reflects the fact that overweight people are resorting to treatments such as
bariatric surgery to tackle their health problems
So what does this mean to the UK?
Obesity is associated with a variety of health disorders (co-morbidities) including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disorders, heart disease, some cancers, depression and joint disorders such as osteoarthritis. Type 2 diabetes can lead to damage to kidneys, eyesight and blood vessels.
These obesity related disorders are costing the NHS vast amounts of money regardless of whether or not they lead to hospitalisation. These disorders burden busy GP practices and damage the economy due to excessive numbers of sick days and, potentially, inability to work thus reducing productivity and requiring Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
The National institute for Clinical Excellent (NICE) recognised this and produced guidelines recommending bariatric (obesity) surgery to be considered when the BMI is 40 or 35 in the presence of co-morbidities. These weight-loss operations include laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and Roux-en Y gastric bypass (RNY). These surgeries have been shown to be the single most effective treatment for obesity; less than 10% of people losing weight through diet alone will sustain that loss and even fewer when taking meal replacement diets. Doctors are starting to recognise the advantages of referral to bariatric surgeons. A Brazilian study demonstrated that the
gastric bypass not only resulted in 65-70% loss of excess weight, but was also an immediate cure for type 2 diabetes meaning patients left hospital not requiring any diabetic treatment. This, in itself, is cost effective in terms of medical times, drug treatments and days lost from work.
The funding for NHS bariatric operation is provided by the patients Primary Care Trust (PCT). There is understandable reluctance to fund operations for weight loss when obesity is still viewed as a lifestyle choice. In fact, morbid obesity is in a different category with many other contributing factors and is seldom resolved by simple diet or drug therapies.
by: Daniel Harris
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